20 Ways To Manage Your 20s

Being in my early 20s myself, I’m aware of how challenging making responsible decisions whilst trying to fully experience the adventure of life can be. ‘Do I do my work or do I play on my PS3 for the next eight hours then go out?’ is a question I frequently ask myself. But luckily, Elite Daily writer Ashley Fern has 20 ways we can structure our time a little better. Finally!

The time spent in our twenties might just be the most influential in regard to our futures. But what do we know? We’re only in our twenties, right? Regardless, this is undoubtedly the time to establish a lifestyle that will carry into our later years. We need to use this time to kick the bad habits we’ve managed to accrue until this point and replace them with more beneficial ones.

It’s that time in your life when you need to start making adjustments and recognizing what works for you and what does not. Chances are you are dabbling in different jobs, so this is the perfect time to figure these things out. When you finally do reach your dream career, you will have all the characteristics and traits necessary to succeed in whatever industry you choose.

Managing your time in your 20s is a difficult task, as it really is at any age. There never seem to be enough hours in the day, but if you learn how to properly manage the hours you do have, the results may astonish you.

Let’s take a look at the 20 best ways to manage your time in your 20s:

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1. Block all social media during the work day, limit using it as much as possible

There’s no better way to procrastinate than by browsing social media. One minute you are stalking your ex and the next you’re on their college roommate’s sister’s best friend’s Facebook page. Social media sites know no limits and you can literally get sucked in for hours and not even realize it. So limit your usage of social media in general. Not only is it a huge time killer, but when you think about it, what do you ever really get out of it? Can you think of one great social media experience that you had that is considered unforgettable? Of course not, looking back on it, you realize how it is just one big blur. The time spent on social media is time you never get back.

2. Create a schedule/routine

By creating a schedule, you can better prepare yourself for the weeks ahead. It allows you to put all your commitments in front of you so that you may realize the time you can dedicate to each obligation. It also helps to prioritize, as you are picking and choosing what you have time for. When there is a routine in front of you, you are mentally committed to get things done rather than comprising your day with one-off actions that you just do when you feel like it. Substitute those arbitrary actions with an actual system and you will find yourself functioning better.

3. Don’t waste your weekends being hungover

Going out is great and a ton of fun, I’d be lying if I said otherwise. Try and pace yourself so that when you wake up in the morning, you don’t have an excessively pounding headache. Nothing prevents productivity quite like a hangover does. Your weekends are when you typically have your most free time, so try and capitalize on it instead of coddling your head while in the fetal position.

4. Don’t over promise and under deliver

It’s far too easy to say yes to an idea that sounds great in theory. It’s a whole different ball game, however, if you are just agreeing to agree without any intention of following through. The person you are committing to believes that you are going to follow through on your promise, so try not to be selfish and waste another person’s time. Commit to plans you only intend on keeping and save yourself the stress. Don’t commit to things that you truly don’t feel like being a part of; make sure you’re not just doing these things because of politics.

5. Reserve time for yourself

Preserve your mental health by recognizing when it’s time to take a break and separate yourself from the anxieties life brings. Get your Netflix on, go to the beach or take some naps. It’s beyond beneficial to spend some time alone and reflect on the choices and decisions you have been making as of late. Decide if that’s the person you want to be or if changes need to be made.

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6. Prioritize your sh*t

Don’t waste time on things that are of little importance to you. Compare the items on your to-do list and start checking things off in order of their relevance. If something is more time sensitive than something else, then it is best to work on that task first. Re-upping your birth control might be more important than that “Pretty Little Liars” marathon you were planning. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Priorities are everything and until you recognize which ones are most important in your life then you will be wasting your time.

7. Set daily goals/tasks

When you wake up in the morning, whether or not you feel like P.Diddy, it’s extremely productive to know what you want to set out and accomplish that day. This will help to prepare your schedule and allow you to make adjustments in real time. The more you consistently conquer, the better it will feel when you set new and tougher goals for yourself.

8. Make deadlines

By creating deadlines for yourself, you can hope to avoid the trap of procrastination. By making yourself aware of when tasks need to be completed, you can make a schedule that coincides with your daily tasks in order to complete it on time and to the best of your ability.

9. Don’t go out every night

While going out is a great way to relieve stress, going out seven days a week isn’t good for your health, no matter how old you are (or no matter how cool it looks on your Instagram). Your sleep cycle will become disrupted and let me tell you firsthand, no one wants to hear your raspy voice that drinking brings on.

10. Get good rest

Sleep is one of the most important things you need in order to maintain good mental health. You need at least 7 hours to function throughout the day. Nothing is harder than trying to concentrate when you got fewer than 5 hours of sleep the night before. It’s not healthy to substitute 3-5 cups of coffee you are most likely downing to make up for the lack of sleep.

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11. Get a planner

Whether this is a physical notebook or an application for your phone, writing things down helps to get them done. By creating a visual of the tasks you need to complete, you can plan out a constructive schedule. It also helps you to remember to do things if you write them down.

12. Don’t procrastinate

Procrastination leads to rushing and rushing leads to mistakes. Give yourself ample time to complete a task so that it is done to the best of its ability. When you wait until the last minute, you have to cut corners as you don’t have time to work in a meticulous fashion. Save yourself the stress and anxiety of rushing and plan out your projects.

13. Delegate / outsource

To make the most of working in an office, try and delegate responsibility to the appropriate parties. Do not make the mistake of taking on everyone’s responsibility when the work can be appropriately divided. This saves everyone time and allows work to be completed in the most efficient manner possible.

14. Focus on one thing at a time before moving on

When you try to accomplish more than one task at a time, you detract from your focus and distract yourself. By having your attention needed in more than one place, you may end up making careless mistakes. Try and fully immerse yourself in one task before moving on to the next.

15. Learn to say no

Stop saying yes to every single opportunity! All you are going to do is stress yourself over the anxiety of a multitude of plans. Learn when to say no, it’s okay to have other (more pressing) obligations, people won’t hold it against you.

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16. Don’t commit to more than one TV show

Netflix addiction is actually a problem. I mean they just have every single season of essentially every great show ever made available at the tips of your fingers. There’s no more waiting weeks at a time to find out if your favorite character died or got dumped. Try not to have more than one show going for you at a time because hours can pass without you even realizing it.

17. Work out

Exercising helps to keep your mind at ease while keeping you focused. It reinforces the importance of establishing a routine, something that can be applied to multiple aspects of a person’s life. You want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, so try your hardest to get some sort of physical activity involved during the week. It also doesn’t hurt to look good.

18. Get up early

If you don’t think you can get to everything you need to during the day, you may need to wake up earlier. At first this will be difficult, but with anything in life, there is an adjustment period. By waking up earlier, you can get to more tasks. This may mean reducing the amount of partying you do, but in the long run, it’ll be worth it.

19. Don’t date a high maintenance person

The worst situation you could ever get yourself in is to date someone who is basically out of his or her mind. Dating a high maintenance person can be emotionally taxing and draining and basically leave you without energy for anything else. You will constantly find yourself distracted and unable to focus on anything besides the problems in your relationship. Do yourself a favor and lose the baggage.

20. No unnecessary drama

Do not waste your time dealing with people who only bring negativity into your life. You need to surround yourself with people who are constantly pushing themselves for the better. If you consistently surrounding yourself with negative people, it will hinder your progression in life. Why choose to spend time with people that are holding you back when you can surround yourself with people who can elevate you? Think back to all the drama you have dealt with in your life and think about if it really has any affect on your life now. The answer to that question is usually no and the time put into that drama is just not worth it.

Written by Ashley Fern.Hailing from the Happiest Valley in State College, Pennsylvania. When she’s not busy chilling, living life, and drinking Corona’s she is backhanding people in the face with her brutally honest articles. Don’t let the cute smile and white teeth fool you as Ashley has a slick tongue that can bring any alpha male crawling back to his mom. Beware this chick kicks ass….Consider yourself warned.

10 Simple Morning Exercises That Will Make You Feel Great All Day

There are lots of studies that show if you do some exercise in the morning, you will be in a better mood all day long. You will have more energy and you will certainly be a better colleague, friend or partner.

One psychologist at Duke University has researched the effects of exercise on depressed patients and he has come to the conclusion that exercise has a definite role in treating this condition and has an important role in preventing people from relapsing.[1] According to the New York Times, scientists have now established that exercise also boosts your brain power.[2]

In addition, there are studies from the Appalachian State University which show that blood pressure can be reduced by doing regular morning exercise.[3]

Here are 10 simple morning exercises that will help you feel great the whole day long. You can include some of them in your morning exercise routine or do them all at home without having to enrol in a gym. Consult your doctor before starting any form of exercise routine if you are new to this.

1. Cat Camel Stretch

Stretching exercises are useful for muscle toning and also preventing arthritis. They can either be dynamic or static.

Dynamic ones such as the cat camel stretch, are particularly useful for doing other exercises in the morning. They are also beneficial at other times of the day, especially after long periods of sedentary work. This one is great for spinal flexibility and is a good warm up exercise.

Kneel down on all fours. Start by rounding your back just like a camel so that your head will try to meet your pelvis. This is the camel position. Then lower and lift your head so that your lower back is arched. This is the cat position. Do these movements slowly and smoothly. About 4 or 5 times.

Here’s a video to guide you through:

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2. Go for a Walk or a Run

This is better done outside so that you can connect with nature but running inside on a treadmill is almost as good. You can time yourself and increase length and time according to your fitness program.

Always have new goals to reach. Start with brisk walking and work up to running. At my age, I am still walking!

The health benefits are considerable. You can build stronger bones and you can help to maintain your weight.

3. Jumping Jacks

Michelle Obama is a great fan of this exercise and has become “Jumper in Chief.”[4] They are great for cardiovascular health and also for toning muscles especially the calves and the deltoids.

Stand with feet together. Jump while spreading your arms and legs. Return to first position and keep going! You can start with doing these for 1 minute and then gradually build up to the number you are comfortable with. Here’s how:

4. Abductor Side Lifts

Watch the video below to see how to do this exercise. These muscles are important because you use them everyday to run, get into the car or onto and off a bicycle. They are very important also for your core stability and prevent the pelvis from tilting.[5]

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Do about 10 to 15 raises for each side like this:

5. Balancing Table Pose

This is a classic yoga pose. It benefits the spine, balance, memory and concentration.

Start with the table pose (hands and knees). Breathe in before starting each movement. As you exhale, raise your left leg parallel to the floor as you raise the right arm, also parallel to the floor. Breathe in as you lower arm and leg. Repeat for the other side. 10 repetitions on each side is a good starting point.

Stand with your feet a bit further out from your hips. Arms are out in front of you. Then lower yourself as if you wanted to sit down until you reach a 90 degree angle. You can go down further if you want to. Then return to the starting position. Repeat 15 times for 2 sets for beginners.

The benefits are that these exercises help with knee stability and can benefit the leg muscles such as quadriceps, hamstrings and calves.[6]

7. Push Ups

You start lying down (face down) but with your body held up at arm’s length. Your hands should be in line with your shoulders. Breathe in as you lower your body. That is fairly easy. Now, as you exhale, you have to get back up to the starting position.

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An easier version to start with is to bend your legs at the knees so you do not have to lift your whole body.

Beginners may take up to a month to be able to do 100 push ups so you will have to start with a very small number and gradually increase it.

This exercise is great for strengthening the chest, shoulders and the triceps. It is a great strengthening exercise for many muscle groups. In fact, most muscles from the toes to the shoulders are being used.

8. Bicycle Crunches

There are numerous crunch exercises targeting the abs. The bicycle crunch is a variation where you work more muscle groups. Aim for 15 to 20 reps to start off with.

Watch the video to see how this is done correctly:

9. Lunges

Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Place your hand on your hips. Take one giant step forward with the right leg. Make sure the knee does not go too far forward, that is, past your toes. The left knee will go down to almost floor level. Alternate the legs as you go on.

Try to do a set of between 8 and 12 reps for each leg. It is important to allow for a day of rest, so this exercise should be done on alternate days, especially if you are using weights.

This exercise is great for strengthening and toning the quadriceps, glutes and hamstrings.

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10. Bicep Curls

You can do this sitting down so if you spend a lot of time on the phone, this is a great exercise to do.

Choose suitable dumbbells or another household object that you can easily hold. Sit down with the dumbbell in your hand. You need to sit forward a bit so that your triceps can lean on your thigh to give you support.

Then bring the weighted arm up to shoulder length and then down again. Exhale as you lift the weight and inhale as you lower it.

Here’re some important notes before you start doing this exercise:

Try to do one or two sets of about ten repetitions for each arm and then switch arms.

These exercises are really useful for toning the arm muscles.[7]In addition, they can strengthen and tone the brachioradialis muscle located in the forearm. These are the muscles we use to pick up things when we flex the arm at the elbow so we use these muscles countless times a day.

You may have to build in a rest day for the heavier exercises, numbers 6–10. On the rest days, you can do gentler stretching exercises and also some walking or running.

Morning exercise is not only a great mood booster, but will help you keep your weight down and also sleep better![8] Start including one or some of these exercises in your morning routine!